Same class of ship. It will depend on if they sail the same itinerary or which port it may leave from. I sailed the Oosterdam from Seattle last August and was very pleased. Both have the retractable roof which makes all the world of difference.

Thank you for getting back to me.
I do not know much about HAL. Are the shows good?, is there strictally sit down eating (no buffet style) and 2 of the 7 nights are dress formal (suits etc) the other 5 nights you have to have khakis etc?
Thanks again,
Mike

HAL has a buffet as well as the dining rooms; for a 7-night cruise there will be 2 formal nights as you described, and the others will be informal. Khakis are quite appropriate for the informal nights.

As far as whether the entertainment is "good" depends on your own personal likes and dislikes. Like the other big-ship cruise lines, they have one or two "production" shows in the big theater per cruise, plus lots of individual entertainers in the various lounges. Games and contests for guest participation are also offered.

We did the Oosterdam round trip out of Seattle 3 years ago and this year did a one-way out of Vancouver on the Ryndam. Both were extremely good ships. Just depends on where you want to go. Oosterdam went to Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, Hubbard Glacier and Victoria, BC back to Seattle. Ryndam went one-way leaving Vancouver, BC and stopping in Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway and a day in Glacier Bay and a day in College Fjords, finally docking in Seward. You would fly home from Anchorage there if you dont take a land tour with your cruise. I have family there in Seward and Anchorage so we spent a week there visiting.

Originally posted by mikes01:
Thank you for getting back to me.
I do not know much about HAL. Are the shows good?, is there strictally sit down eating (no buffet style) and 2 of the 7 nights are dress formal (suits etc) the other 5 nights you have to have khakis etc?
Thanks again,
Mike

We enjoy HA a great deal. the Lido is where the buffet is each night. We ate there on two of the nights as for this trip we decided not to do the formal. It is the same food as you will have in the dining room and the main course is actually brought to your table. In addition. the salad bar is very good and I enjoy creating my own. The entertainment as previously noted is an indiviual thing. My family enjoys the participation shows which you can take part in. The cruise line does what it can to provide good entertainment from morning till night!